Competency Based Interviwing Skills Workshop

Introduction

Mastering the art of interviewing is crucial for making informed hiring decisions that align with organizational goals. Our Competency-Based Interviewing Skills Workshop is designed to provide participants with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct reliable, fair, and consistent interviews. This Competency-Based Interviewing Skills course emphasizes the importance of interviews in the hiring process and addresses common mistakes made by untrained interviewers, such as improper questioning and lack of preparation. By focusing on competency-based interviews (CBI), participants will learn how to evaluate candidates effectively, ensuring they are aligned with both the role requirements and the company's values. This Competency-Based Interviewing Skills intensive workshop will teach participants how to design competency-based interview guides, conduct probing interviews, and use the gathered data to make informed hiring decisions. By the end of this training, you will be equipped to handle interviews that uncover key behavioral characteristics of applicants, increasing the likelihood of hiring the right candidate while minimizing legal risks.

Course Objectives

By the end of this Competency-Based Interviewing Skills course, participants will be able to:

• Define the importance of interviews as a selection method and avoid common interviewer mistakes.
• List the main types of selection interviews and understand when and how to use each.
• Design competency-based interview guides and collect relevant data from interviewees.
• Conduct probing interviews that reveal applicants' behavioral traits.
• Use interview data to perform gap analysis and select the most suitable candidate.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

This Competency-Based Interviewing Skills course is ideal for:

• Line managers responsible for interviewing candidates.
• Human resources professionals involved in recruitment, selection, and workforce planning.
• Anyone involved in assessing candidates prior to hiring.

Target competencies include:

• Recruitment
• Short-listing
• Interviewing
• Questioning and probing
• Note-taking
• Report writing
• Decision-making

Course Content

Module 1: Interview as a Method of Selection

• Prevalence of the interview as a selection method
• Reliability and validity of interviews
• Reliability of CVs
• Why interviews remain the most reliable method for candidate selection
• Overcoming problems with interviews before, during, and after

Module 2: Types of Selection Interviews

• Screening and biographical interviews
• Biographical interviews
• Stress interviews and why they are unethical
• Panel interviews and rules for conducting them

Module 3: Competency-Based Interviews (CBI)

• Pre-interview preparation steps
• Developing a CBI guide using competencies and values
• Standardizing questions
• Organizing the interview venue and materials
• Ensuring consistency and ethical implications

Module 4: Structure of a CBI

• Techniques for introductions and opening statements
• Conducting effective interviews: open and closed questions
• Using hypothetical and leading questions appropriately
• Applying the STAR and FACT funneling techniques
• Identifying disallowed questions and closing interviews effectively

Module 5: Post-Interview Steps

• Classifying and evaluating captured data
• Linking data to competency guides
• Legal and ethical aspects of report writing
• Producing comprehensive interview reports
• Making selection decisions using decision matrices and gap analyses

General Notes

• This course is facilitated by seasoned trainers with extensive experience in interviewing, recruitment, and workforce planning. The training is a blend of practical activities, theory, group work, and case studies.
• Participants will receive comprehensive training manuals and additional reference materials.
• Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded a certificate.
• We offer tailor-made courses to meet specific organizational needs. Contact us at training@skillsforafrica.org for more details.
• The training will take place at the Skills for Africa Training Institute in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The training fee includes tuition, materials, lunch, and the venue. Accommodation and airport transfers can be arranged upon request.
• Payments should be made to our bank account before the start of the training. Proof of payment must be sent to training@skillsforafrica.org.